PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 269, 2 August 1918, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

No great change is disclosed today in the battle area in France. The vigorous counter-attacks in which the enemy is indulging are presumably intended to gain timo rather than territory, and no doubt the object sought is being attained, at a price. A noteworthy contribution to the story of the battle is made by a Reuter correspondent at American Headquarters, who declares that- it is still impossible to estimate the enemy's enormous losses in numbers, and montions L .h_at the forest roads arc bordered with shells for miles, and that dumps covering acres, piled to a man's height, have been discovered. There is here plain and convincing evidence of the magnitude of tho enemy's original offensive plan and of the staggering character of his defeat.

The situation in Russia is still hazy and ill-defined, and some of to-day's reports aro of doubtful value. For instance, the statement made in one message that. Czechoslovak forces are rapidly approaching Moscow may mean much or little. Equally promising reports havo appeared beforo without leading up to the anticipated sequel. On the whole, however, there seem to be improving prospects of a Bolshevik collapse and of some sort of rallying of tho better elements of tho population, to whom the Czechoslovaks are at once a nucleus and a reinforcement Amidst, much that is uncertain' the assassination of von Eiciiokn, the German dictator in the Ukraine, commands attention as a definite and unmistakable sign of tho times. It carries all tho. more significance since it follows upon a similar act of vengeance against von Miiiiucn, tho, late German Ambassador, so-called, at Moscow. As in that case tho assassination now reported is definitely political in. character, and demonstrates the existence of an active and rising spirit of resistance even in those parts of Hussia where Germany hoped to gain undisputed sway. If Germany were etili in a

position to maintain a big army in Itussia there would be slqncler hopts of a serious anti-Gorman rising iii that country or ml' her being put to serious difficulty in dealing with it. But since she is at a stage when she needs every available man and gun in Western Europe it is likely that there arc substantial grounds for the uneasiness with which developments and prospective developments in the East are said to be regarded in Berlin. Meantime, however, matters are at a somewhat indeterminate stage. The latest reference to Allied intervention in Siberia indicates that it has not yet taken actual shape, although it is_ anticipated that the remaining difficulties in the way will be overcome in the very near future.

Though there is no doubt that the production of aeroplanes in America has fallen in some respects short of expectations, figures which were lately published by permission of Mr. Secretary Baker indicate that it will not be long before the American air squadrons assume formidable proportions. For instance, at about the end of May there were 12,107 officers in the United States aviation corps and 136,761 enlisted men. The total number of machines abroad was 1316, of which 321 wore battleplanes, and the- number of machines in the United States was 3760. Most of these were training 'planes. The battleplanes just mentioned were not built in America, but were secured from British and French factories, where American , mechanics and American raw matorial were employed and used in manufacturing the 'planes. As to flyors, there were 4606 flying officers in the United States up to May 1 and 1590 abroad, making a total of 6196. There were 6506 non-flying officers in the United States and abroad 1854, making a total of 8360. There were 2983 cadets in training at the flying schools in the l United States and 2044 abroad, making a total of 5027. There were_l9l bombing schools, 145 pursuit 'pla.no schools, and 88 observers' schools. The following figures of production arc not unpromising when it is remembered that they represent the early fruits of a manufacturing organisation which took a lengthy period to develop, but will rapidly increase its output as time goes on: -Up to April 1 the United States had produced 14 bombing 'planes. In Uto week of May 11 the number produced was 34, and in the week of May 18 it was 37. Battleplanes to the number of more than 160 had been produced at the end of May, and others wore then being turned out at the average rate of 40 a week. England, according to an American authority, is producing about 3000, and France about 2000 aeroplanes a month. * * * ♦ At presont the magnitude of America's aerial effort is, best gauged by taking account of the number of men enrolled as flying officers and in other branches of the aviation corps. It may be noted, however, that according to a Washington correspondent the Chief of Staff of the United States Army is authority for the statement that there noyor has been a time when the fighting units of the American Army have- not had all the battleplanes to protect them that they could use. A member of the House of Representatives Military Affairs Committee, the correspondent states, obtained that information from General March.

A glimpse of the development of quantity production in the United States,' and an idea of the outputs that may be expected in the near future, was given recently by Me. Davib Lawrence in tho New York Evening Post. He remarked that "barring labour difficulties," more than 22,000 Liberty motors would be produced in the United States by the end of October. "Thero will not be American battleplanes ready for more than a third of that number of motors," he added, "but France and Great Britain arc calling for Liberty engines to put in their own make of 'planes." A conservative estimate of 200 a day production, ha further observed, would mean a clearing up by the end of October of the entire programme of Liberty motors thus far _ ordered. "And," he continued, "it is no casual estimate, for once the production begins in this multiple business it is as easy to calculate as tho manufacture, oi . . . jitneys. By the middle of August the . . . ipianfc, for instance, will without any doubt whatsoever be shipping one hundred of those Liberty motors a day, and the Entente Allies will be very happy to get them,_ for the Liberty motor can bo put in naval 'planes as well as fighting craft, and whatever tyjies of 'planes are developed abroad, whether they are two-seated or three-seated.or lowfjying armoured machines, the Allies will havo motors enough to equip them."

The same writer observes that it is the great advantage of the Liberty engine that it can bo used on six out of seven types of 'planes, and probably will be useful on any now types hereafter developed. "And," he.remarks, "while it .is disappointing to think that not more than 2500 of the Liberty motors will get into American fighting 'planes this summer, it is well worth remembering that the object of America is to help the Entente just as much as possible, and we iiavo developed a motor which, as somo British cn.eircers say, outstrips anything in Europe It means that Detroit—home of quantity production—can furnish thousands and thousands of those motors more rapidly than 'planes can b? built here or abroad to take. them. Besides the Army, of course, the Navy will absorb Liberty motors for hydroplanes, as well as (lying boats, so there h little cause, for worry ,\\>o\\l thfc number of Liberty motors to be nvailable this year."